The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-06-17

city of Washington enjoys, is its situation
on the Potomac river, and its easy access
to places of historical interest, as well as
resorts for pleasure, along its shores. Com
Portable excursion steamers, after first
passing the beautiful arsenal grounds,
where several batteries of artillery are now
quartered, reach Alexandria, a port OF
entry, seven miles below, with a popula-
ton between IS, 900 and II, 900. The river
at this point is a mile and q half wide,
forming a harbor able to accommodate the
largest ships. At the opening of the Civil
war, Alexandria was in possession of the
Confedcrates: but on the Gath of May,
1861, it was entered by Union forces under
Co. Ellsworth, who was shot while haul
ing down II Confederate flag. Christ
Church, where Washington worshiped,
and where. also, is shown the pew occu-
pied by the Confederate chieftain, Robert
+. Lee, is the place Of greatest interest to
| strangers. next to which is the ancient
cemetery. Alexandria has this year taken
a new lease of life, and y new era of pros
perity has set in with the establishment OF
her iron ship building yard, where a first
class steamer is now undergoing construc-
ton. Eight miles below Alexandria is
Mount Vernon, the homo and burial place
of George Washington. At the time OF
his deeeasc the estate comprised several
thousand acres. The mansion is beautl-
F,lI, ci4,,oto1 on n Cuollinr Inirht prnyyO-
ed with trees, and commanding n fine view
up and down the river. The library and
WashingtOn's bed room remain as they
were at the time of his death, and contain
many articles of great interest. The other
rooms have been furnished, as nearly as
possible, to conform to the period i'll which
he lived; and q number of states have as
sumed the care of Il room each, producing
the furniture and decorations from among
their older families, thus serving the
double purpose of perpetuation of State as
well as National souvenirs of the oldcn
time. In 1858, the mansion and 200 acres
of land were bought by the Ladies'
Mount Vernon Association" who hold it
in perpetuity, as q place of public resort
and pilgrimage. Jay Gould, for the first
time in his busy life, found an opportunity
last week. to visit the tomb of the Father
of his Country. His magnificent yacht
Atalanta was anchored Just off Mount YER
non, when his party bethought them of 4
flying visit to this city, and leaving the
yacht at Giesboro Point, below the Ar
senal wharf, they steamed up here in two
of the smarteSt little steam launches ever
seen in these waters, and employed an
afternoon in driving about the city and
surrounding country. Seventy miles from
Washington is Colonial Beach, q noted
salt water bathing place. This beach has
long borne the name Of "Classic Shore, "
because three miles back, i'll the county
of Westmoreland, was W~ashington's birth
place; ruins of the old house still remain,
and measures have been taken to place q
monument on the site. Before reaching
Mount Vernon. on q sail down the river,
Forts Foote and Washington are passed ON
the Maryland side, and almost opposite to
it is Marshall Hall, the old homestead of
Il branch of the family of the first Chief
Justice; it now affords a glimpse to mod
ern eyes OF the mode in which the well-to-
do farmer or plantation owner lived in by
zone days. The place is wonderfully pre-
served, and admirably kept at present as
an excursion ground. River View, a COM
paratively new resort; Glymont, Pincy
Point. Lower Cedar Point, Chapel Point,
Colton's and Blackstone Island are the
names of the charming places on both
sides OF the river, sought by thousands in
this locality, for relief from the summers
heat. Salt water begins about forty miles
below the city, but the real salt water air
is not reached until within some sixty
miles distance. The Potomac river, from
its source in the Alleghenies to its mouth
at the Chesapeake Bay, is 400 miles long.
For nearly half that distance, in passing
through the mountain region north of this
city, it is n comparatively narrow stream;
but when it reaches Alexandria, as | have
said. it widcns out to about a mile and n
half. In its course to the sea it gradually
expands until at its mouth it forms a
broad estuary seven and 4 half miles wide.
This represents the width of the river from
Point Lookout to Smiths Point. where it
empties into tile Chesapeake Bay.
WESTON.